Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA introduced a bill to make the Territory the first jurisdiction in Australia to grant nurse practitioners the authority to issue cause-of-death certificates and witness non-written health directions. 

The legislation authorises nurse practitioners who have undertaken the necessary training and obtained the required credentials to issue cause-of-death certificates within 48 hours of a person’s death where they were responsible for the care of the person and can form a reasonable opinion as to the person’s case of death, and in circumstances where a referral to the Coroner is not required. Currently only doctors can issue cause-of-death certificates.

Thomas spoke in support of the bill and acknowledged that the reforms will provide a small measure of relief to some of the pressures felt by the Territory’s health system. Thomas also acknowledged concerns raised by the Coroner’s office regarding the risk  that this change may lead to an increased coronial workload. 

Responding to this concern, the Canberra Liberals introduced an amendment to the bill to require the Chief Coroner to review the section of the bill empowering nurse practitioners to issue cause-of-death-certificates one year after the commencement of the legislation. This amendment was opposed by all other Members, including Thomas, and did not pass. Thomas acknowledged the Coroner’s concerns, and noted that he had previously advocated for increased resourcing to the Coroner’s office to address workload issues, but argued that it would be abnormal – perhaps unprecedented – to require the Coroner to review a piece of legislation in this way.

ACT Labor moved an alternate amendment, which required the Health Minister to undertake a post-implementation within three years. This amendment was agreed to, with support from Thomas who noted this kind of review requirement was the standard form for post-implementation legislative reviews, and would offer an opportunity to assess whether the Coroner’s concerns held true.

The bill, as amended, was passed with the support of ACT Labor, the ACT Greens, independent MLA Fiona Carrick and Thomas. It was opposed by the Canberra Liberals.